Aqueous chemistry of ruthenium(II) complexes containing dimethylsulfoxide, and a chelated disulfoxide ligand or a cyclotetrathia ligand

[Display omitted] •X-ray and aqueous chemistry studies on Ru-sulfoxide/cyclotetrathia complexes.•Ru complexes X-ray structures.•Aqueous chemistry kinetics. The aqueous chemistry, including some kinetic studies, of our recently reported [RuII/IIICl(BPSP)]2(μ-Cl)3 (complex 1), where BPSP = 1,2-bis(propylsulfinyl)ethane, and a new complex cis-RuCl2(DMSO)(DMSO)(BESE) (2), where BESE = 1,2-bis(ethylsulfinyl)ethane, is described; both 1 and 2 are fully characterized. Such data are of importance for in vitro studies on cytotoxicity, accumulation and DNA-binding properties in selected cells, findings that will be published elsewhere. Discussed also are the complexes [Ru(12-ane-S4)(DMSO)(H2O)][OTf]2 (3), where 12-ane-S4 = 1,4,7,10-tetrathiacyclododecane, and cis-RuCl2(DMSO)L (4), where L = 3,6,9,14 tetrathiabicyclo-[9.2.1]-tetradeca-11,13-diene. Complexes 3 and 4 were first made by our group, but have been synthesized and studied subsequently by other groups; differences in findings are discussed.